Apparatus and method for monitoring electronic devices via a global network

Abstract

A system for locating and monitoring electronic devices utilizing a security system that is secretly and transparently embedded within the software, firmware, or hardware of a computer. This security system initiates the client computer to periodically and conditionally call a host system to provide unique identifying indicia and location information. In one embodiment, the security system calls the host through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and transmits the indicia in encoded form. In an alternative embodiment, which may be incorporated concurrently with the PSTN application, the security system calls the host system through the Internet and provides the host with indicia encoded within the DNS query sent. The host system is able to identify the calling computer from the indicia and is able to physically locate the computer through either caller identification or by referencing the Internet links which were used to connect the calling computer with the host system.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method for tracing an electronic device having an agent, said agent used for providing identifying indicia and location information for said electronic device to a host system, said electronic device connectable to said host system through a global network, said method comprising the steps of: 
       loading said agent within said electronic device for initiating communication with said host system such that said agent evades detection;  
       automatically providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said global network for determining the identity of said electronic device; and  
       providing said host system with one or more of the global network communication links used to enable transmission between said electronic device and said host system, said communication links used for determining the location of said electronic device.  
     
     
       2. The method of claim  1  wherein said global network is the Internet. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim  1  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a telephone network, and said method further includes the steps of providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network, and determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said telephone network. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim  1  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a cablevision network, and said method further includes the steps of providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said cablevision network, and determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said cablevision network. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim  1  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a wireless radio frequency network, and said method further includes the steps of providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said wireless radio frequency network, and determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said wireless radio frequency network. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim  1  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a wireless microwave network, and said method further includes the steps of providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said wireless microwave network, and determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said wireless microwave network. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim  3  wherein said step of providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said global network, and said step of providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network occur at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim  7  wherein said electronic device is lost or stolen and said method further including the step of tracing lost or stolen electronic devices. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim  2  wherein said step of providing said host system with said one or more of the Internet communication links is accomplished using a traceroute routine. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim  1  wherein said step of providing said host system with said identifying indicia is accomplished by sending a data packet including address information relating to the source of the global network transmission. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim  2  wherein said step of providing said host system with said identifying indicia is accomplished by sending a domain name service query with said identifying indicia encoded therein. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim  2  further including the step of providing a list of lost or stolen electronic devices to said host system and comparing said list of lost or stolen electronic devices with said identifying indicia to determine if said electronic device is lost or stolen. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim  12  wherein said host system sends a signal through said Internet to said electronic device if it is determined to be lost or stolen indicating that said lost or stolen electronic device should initiate a traceroute routine. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim  12  wherein said host system sends a signal through said Internet to said electronic device if it has been determined to be lost or stolen indicating that said electronic device should initiate a call to said host system via said telephone network. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim  11  wherein said identifying indicia is encoded within said domain name service query according to a predetermined scheme. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim  15  wherein said host system decodes said identifying indicia to determine the identity of said electronic device. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim  1  wherein said electronic device is a computer having a hard drive. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim  17  further including the step of providing said agent with deflection means to enable said agent to resist disablement attempts and evade detection. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  18  wherein said deflection means deflects read and write attempts to the location where said agent is disposed. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim  1  wherein said step of evading detection is accomplished by providing an agent which is operable without interfering with the normal operation of said electronic device. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim  17  wherein said step of loading said agent within said computer is accomplished by loading said agent within the boot sector of said hard drive. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim  17  wherein said step of loading said agent within said computer is accomplished by loading said agent within the partition sector of said hard drive. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim  17  wherein said step of loading said agent within said computer is accomplished by loading said agent within an operating system file on said hard drive. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim  23  wherein said operating system is MS-DOS and said operating system file is IO.SYS. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim  23  wherein said operating system is PC-DOS and said operating system file is IBMBIO.COM. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim  17  wherein said step of loading said agent within said computer is accomplished by loading said agent on the ROM BIOS. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim  17  wherein said agent is a terminated and stay resident program. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim  17  wherein said agent is a virtual device driver program. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim  17  wherein said agent is an application program. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim  17  wherein said agent is a file filter program. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim  1  wherein said agent provides said identifying indicia automatically and without user intervention. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim  31  wherein said step of providing said host system with said identifying indicia occurs without causing audible or visible signals to be emitted from said electronic device. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim  2  wherein the communication link between said electronic device and said host system is provided through a link to a private network connection to the Internet. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim  2  wherein the communication link between said electronic device and said host system is provided through a telephone line connected to an Internet provider. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim  1  further including the step of assigning said identifying indicia to said agent wherein said identifying indicia comprises a unique electronic serial number, said electronic serial number for enabling the determination of the identity of said electronic device associated with said agent. 
     
     
       36. A method for monitoring an electronic device connectable to a host system through a global network, said electronic device having an agent, said agent providing identifying indicia for determining the identity of said electronic device, said method comprising the steps of: 
       loading said agent within said device such that said agent evades detection; and  
       automatically providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said network without causing audible or visual signals to be emitted from said electronic device.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim  36  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a telephone network, and said method further includes the step of providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim  36  wherein said step of providing said identifying indicia occurs automatically and without human intervention. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim  37  wherein said step of providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said global network, and said step of providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network occur at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim  36  wherein said global network is the Internet and said step of providing said identifying indicia is accomplished by encoding a domain name service query to include said identifying indicia. 
     
     
       41. An apparatus for tracing an electronic device connectable to a host system through a global network, said electronic device having an agent, said agent providing identifying indicia and location information for said electronic device to said host system, said apparatus comprising: 
       means for loading said agent within said electronic device such that said agent evades detection;  
       means for automatically providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said global network; and  
       means for providing said host system with one or more of the global network communication links used to enable transmission between said electronic device and said host system, said communication links used for determining the location of said electronic device.  
     
     
       42. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said global network is the Internet. 
     
     
       43. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a telephone network, and said apparatus further includes means for providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network, and means for determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said telephone network. 
     
     
       44. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a cablevision network, and said apparatus further includes means for providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said cablevision network, and means for determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said cablevision network. 
     
     
       45. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a wireless radio frequency network, and said apparatus further includes means for providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said wireless radio frequency network, and means for determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said wireless radio frequency network. 
     
     
       46. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a wireless microwave network, and said apparatus further includes means for providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said wireless microwave network, and means for determining the location of said electronic device by tracing the source of said identifying indicia within said wireless microwave network. 
     
     
       47. The apparatus of claim  43  wherein said means for providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said global network, and said means for providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network operate at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
       48. The apparatus of claim  43  wherein said electronic device is lost or stolen. 
     
     
       49. The apparatus of claim  42  wherein said identifying indicia is encoded within a domain name service query. 
     
     
       50. The apparatus of claim  42  wherein said means for providing said host system with said one or more global network communication links is accomplished using a traceroute routine. 
     
     
       51. The apparatus of claim  43  further including means for providing a list of lost or stolen electronic devices to said host system and means for comparing said list of lost or stolen electronic devices with said identifying indicia to determine if said electronic device is lost or stolen. 
     
     
       52. The apparatus of claim  51  wherein said host system includes means for sending a signal through the Internet to said electronic device if it is determined to be lost or stolen, indicating that said lost or stolen electronic device should initiate said traceroute routine. 
     
     
       53. The apparatus of claim  51  wherein said host system includes means for sending a signal through the Internet to said electronic device if it is determined to be lost or stolen indicating that said lost or stolen electronic device should initiate a call to said host system through said telephone network. 
     
     
       54. The apparatus of claim  49  wherein said host system includes means for decoding said identifying indicia to determine the identity of said electronic device. 
     
     
       55. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said electronic device is a computer having a hard drive. 
     
     
       56. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said agent evades detection by operating without interfering with the normal operation of said electronic device. 
     
     
       57. The apparatus of claim  42  wherein said agent is provided with deflection means for evading detection and resisting disablement. 
     
     
       58. The apparatus of claim  57  wherein said deflection means deflect read and write attempts to the location on said hard drive where said agent is disposed. 
     
     
       59. The apparatus of claim  41  wherein said means for providing said host system with said identifying indicia operates automatically and without user intervention. 
     
     
       60. The apparatus of claim  59  wherein said means for providing said host system with said identifying indicia for said electronic device occurs without causing audible or visible signals to be emitted from said electronic device. 
     
     
       61. The apparatus of claim  42  wherein said Internet connection between said electronic device and said host system is provided through a link to a private network connection to the Internet. 
     
     
       62. The apparatus of claim  61  wherein said link to a private network connection to the Internet is a wireless link. 
     
     
       63. The apparatus of claim  42  wherein said Internet connection between said electronic device and said host system is provided through a telephone line connected to an Internet provider. 
     
     
       64. The apparatus of claim  42  further including means for assigning said identifying indicia to said agent wherein said identifying indicia comprises a unique electronic serial number, said electronic serial number for enabling the determination of the identity of said electronic device associated with said agent. 
     
     
       65. An apparatus for monitoring an electronic device connectable to a host system through a global network, said electronic device having an agent for providing identifying indicia for said electronic device to determine the identity of said electronic device, said apparatus comprising: 
       means for loading said agent within said electronic device such that said agent evades detection; and  
       means for automatically providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said global network without causing audible or visual signals to be emitted from said electronic device.  
     
     
       66. The apparatus of claim  65  wherein said global network is the Internet. 
     
     
       67. The apparatus of claim  65  wherein said electronic device is further connected to said host system through a telephone network, and said apparatus further includes means for providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network. 
     
     
       68. The apparatus of claim  67  wherein said means for providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said global network connection, and said means for providing said identifying indicia to said host system through said telephone network operate at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
       69. The apparatus of claim  65  further comprising means for providing said host system with one or more of the global network communication links used to enable transmission between said host system and said electronic device, said communication links used for determining the location of said electronic device. 
     
     
       70. The apparatus of claim  65  wherein said agent evades detection by operating without interfering with the normal operation of said electronic device. 
     
     
       71. The apparatus of claim  70  wherein the agent evades detection and resists disablement by incorporating deflection means. 
     
     
       72. A method for tracing an electronic device having an agent, said agent used for providing identifying indicia and location information to a host system, said electronic device connectable to said host system through the Internet, said method comprising the steps of: 
       providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said Internet for determining the identity of said electronic device; and  
       providing said host system with one or more of the Internet communication links used to enable transmission between said electronic device and said host system, said communication links used for determining the location of said electronic device.  
     
     
       73. An apparatus for tracing an electronic device connectable to a host system through the Internet, said electronic device having an agent, said agent providing identifying indicia and location information for said electronic device to said host system, said apparatus comprising: 
       means for providing said host system with said identifying indicia through said Internet; and  
       means for providing said host system with one or more of the Internet communication links used to enable transmission between said electronic device and said host system, said communication links used for determining the location of said electronic device.  
     
     
       74. An agent for use in an electronic device, said electronic device connectable to a telecommunications interface connected to a telecommunications system, a remote host system also connected to said telecommunications system, said agent comprising: 
       means for periodically initiating and communicating with said host system without human intervention; and  
       means for preparing said electronic device to transmit unique location information to said host system.  
     
     
       75. The agent of claim  74  wherein said location information consists of one or more of the Internet communication links used to enable transmission between said electronic device and said host system.